Stay on target

If you’re itching to play some Nintendo games these days you’ve got a lot of options. The Nintendo Switch is the hottest console on the market with recent hits like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee. The 3DS is still somehow kicking around with its absolutely massive library of great games for all ages. You can even play a couple of decent official Nintendo games on your phone.

However, if you want some classic Nintendo games on your television, your best option is to pick up an NES Classic or SNES Classic soon. Not just because these little retro console are a great blast from the past, but because after this holiday shopping season they’ll also just be distant memories as Nintendo won’t be making them anymore.

“These products are going to be available through the holiday season and once they sell out, they’re gone. And that’s it,” Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.

Granted, we’ve been through this before. The NES Classic was infamously difficult to track down in 2016 and many criticized Nintendo for apparent artificial scarcity tactics. The SNES Classic was much more widespread when it launched last year. That combined with a resupply of NES Classic stock made both retro consoles much easier to get your hands on.

However, apparently that’s no longer going to be the case. But frankly, we’re happy about that. We’d much rather Nintendo continue adding retro games to the Nintendo Switch, a device that also plays new Nintendo games, instead of selling these emulator boxes DIY dudes can crack open anyway. Just put Super Mario 64 on the Switch instead of trying to convince people to buy new N64 controllers in 2019 for nearly $100. Plus, the disappointment of the PlayStation One Classic has probably taken some of the sheen off of these products in general.

So if you want an NES Classic or SNES Classic you better pick one up now before its too late. Or just buy a Switch. For more on Nintendo read our interview with Virtuos on ambitious Nintendo Switch ports and play with powers thanks to these Nintendo toys.